─── ♔♔♔ ───

"Kai, hold on," I say as we start the walk back to the cottage. He stops by one of the corridors out of the private apartments. There are no guards down this part of the castle because the king and queen are down the other side, and our security is having the day off. When we're not out and about, our security has their own little house by ours and we're covered by the general Windsor Castle guards while on downtime.

It's just me and Kai in this corridor right now.

"What's up, Peach?" he asks.

I sigh and lean against the wall, unsure how to do this. This is going to be weird because he's going to assume I'm trying to make him jealous. Am I? I think deep down, probably. But also, this might become a thing. It might do, it might not.

This is mainly selfish.

"Last night, after you left... my phone went off. I had a message from Brayden saying we should talk. Me and him, I assume. Not you. I meant—" I sigh. "He wants to talk to me. I assume because now I'm engaged to a prince, and he's confused? I don't know."

He slumps a little and shifts his weight. "Did you respond?"

I shake my head. "No."

Kai runs a hand over his face, and the stress radiates off him. I wonder if that means a jealous thing, or if he's angry. Maybe he just doesn't care.

"Are you going to reply?" Kai asks.

I shrug. "No idea. Probably not. I just—this is what I wanted months ago, up until that night."

He furrows his brows at me. "What? What do you mean until that night? I thought it was the pregnancy that changed things for you?"

I shake my head. "No. You changed things. The way you treated me that night, the way you opened my eyes to how someone should be treated, not like he did. I felt like a human being that night, not like a doll—that's how Brayden made me feel. But it was normal for me to feel like that until you changed it."

He sighs. "Block him then, Peach. You have the power now. It sounds like you had none until, well, I guess I gave it to you."

"It's not that simple, though. What if he goes to the papers as my ex and spreads shit about me?"

He laughs. "He can try. The palace will shut that down as quickly as it's made. Even if he does, the people love you, so at worst, we'll get your take on it and release a counter statement. Just please tell me there are no sex tapes or anything like that."

I snort. "No. That was one thing he wanted, and I refused."

"Good. It's that stuff that can damage." Kai rubs his face again. "Do you want to reply? Are you asking for my permission to be with him again? As much as I would say no because of the abuse you say he put you through—"

"I wouldn't call it abuse—"

"Peach, you told me he put your body down, told you how to have your hair cut and controlled you. That's bullying, which in a romantic relationship is abuse. My point is, as much as I—I wouldn't want to give you the okay for that, but as long as it's in absolute secret, I guess I'm not in a position to say no."

I blink. Somehow, that makes me angry. He's not wrong about the abuse thing, but what makes me angry is that he wouldn't fight for me, or so it seems. He wouldn't fight me if I wanted to go back to Brayden? Does he not feel the same?

"It's not about that. I don't want to go back to him. I just—I don't know why I told you, in all honesty. Somehow, it felt important to tell you. It just feels like now I'm famous in a way, he wants to know. He didn't before."

"Literally, that's it, Peach. He wants you now you're famous. Men run on jealousy. That's why your plan that night we met should have worked. We want what we can't have. Clearly, this idiot is a pure... I can't say it in these walls, but he's not like normal men. He's flawed to no end. The guy wants his fifteen minutes of fame, because the people love you, because he sees you with someone else and that person is—well, I am better than him because I don't abuse my romantic partners—so he's contacting you now. Brayden doesn't love you; he never did. There's so much good about you and he never saw it or he wouldn't have let you go. Anyone who does let you go is a pure idiot, anyway."

I can't respond because I just don't know how to. Is that a compliment? There's constantly been attraction here, but does he feel the way I feel? Is that what this is?

We agreed not to explore this, but I so badly want to ask.

"I—I will ignore him."

He sighs with what seems like relief. "Thank you. Right, let's go."

There's some sort of annoyance in his tone and the way he walks quicker down the corridor. Is he actually jealous right now, or angry because I brought it up? Is that anger jealousy, or am I pretending to see things that aren't there?

Part of me is selfish enough to hope he is jealous, but it hurts because we agreed it was best not to go here, yet here I am falling like an absolute idiot.

─── ♔♔♔ ───

My dad is sitting in my favourite room in the cottage later that afternoon, harbouring a cup of coffee and watching the news. All they can talk about is the wedding date already; the news came out an hour ago to the public. I told my family as soon as we got back from the castle. Their plan worked because although it's got a little coverage still, and the papers are still out there with the news, my mishaps at the ball last night are now not as important.

"Hey, sweetheart, you okay?" Dad asks.

I sit beside him and find myself under his arm in a hug we used to do when I was smaller and binge-watching films on a rainy Sunday morning. Dad's hug is the answer to all and every problem, even if they don't provide solutions.

He puts his coffee down and shifts until he's smoothing my hair down the way he used to comfort me after a nightmare. "It might seem doom and gloom right now, but it will get better, sweetheart."

I say nothing, just lean into him a little more.

"You're taking to this like a duck to water. I am so, so proud of you. Your mother will be looking down in awe. Not many people could do this, but you, my precious daughter, are doing amazing." He's almost singing it now, like a lullaby. It zings through to my heart, and instantly, everything is brighter. "Whatever it is, and I think I know what it is, you can tell me if you want to. If you don't, that's fine. But I will be here for you whenever and if ever you want."

"I—" I stop for a moment before sighing. "Kai and I met in a club. He was fixed up in some disguise, and it was so dark I just didn't even think. Plus the alcohol. We sort of had this plan. Brayden... was there, and I wanted to make him jealous and take me back—"

"Mila, you're telling me you wanted that idiot back?"

"At the time, yeah. Not now, not after meeting Kai. Kai and I danced together and kissed in front of him, just for a fake romance thing. It didn't work, by the way. We ended up going home together, and that's how the baby happened," I mention. "Anyway... Brayden never contacted me after that night, and I know he saw us together. I kinda just got over him. Kai treated me with respect, even in one night, I was treated better than he did in the whole time we were together."

"I'm glad you learned, sweetheart—"

Patrick suddenly sits on the other sofa as if he's been here the whole time. "You have no idea how many times I've told you how much of a piece of shit that guy was. I threatened him a few times, but he still never learned."

"How long have you been in here?" Dad asks him.

"Long enough to hear the whole Brayden story. Mum's baking cookies downstairs, and she got annoyed with me sitting and waiting for them, so sent me away."

I snort at him. "Idiot."

"Carry on your tale of how much we hate that idiot."

I roll my eyes and continue. "So... Brayden texted me last night. Clearly after seeing me engaged and pregnant, now I'm famous and whatever. He wants to talk to me, but I just—I don't want to go there again. Plus, you know, I'm engaged to a prince and all that. I'm just worried he'll go to the media, but Kai says they can shut it down quickly. I'm just—my brain is working overtime."

It falls silent while tears fall from my eyes. I have to admit this out loud, but I don't want to at the same time.

"Okay, then don't. Just ignore that prat. He's not even worth the shit on my shoe, Seahorse. He's worse than some of the shit-heads I would see at the emergency department on a Friday night," Patrick says. "But I feel there's more to this."

"The past few months, me and Kai have been getting on and living together and whatever. I think I've fallen in love with him despite us both agreeing to keep this professional," I admit quietly.

They both fall silent for a while. It feels like years for me, but in reality, it must be a matter of pure seconds. The beat of awkward truths beats around with me in time to my heart, which is pounding like a war drum. The truth is like a bitter pill. Now it's out there, it's not a secret anymore. If Kai knew, it would be even worse, but it's just my dad and my brother.

Patrick cocks his head. "I could've placed a bet on that and won."

"Shut up," I retort. "I'm telling the truth."

"Yeah, I know you are. It's written all over your face, Seahorse. I could've told you that fact for free. You're not just painting a brilliant lie for the world, I can see you're in love with the guy. I mean, anyone in your position would."

I narrow my eyes. "I hate you."

"Love you, too. But in all seriousness, I know you are. Here's the thing—" He sits forward in the chair. I stay hugging my dad on the sofa. "Men run on jealousy. As well you know from your plan with Kai."

I nod.

Patrick carries on. "So when you told Kai about your idiot of an ex texting you, it's no surprise he went all weird about it. Despite the whole fake arrangement and engagement, the two of you seem to have a weird bond going on. While Brayden is probably finally catching up to the fact you're trying to make him jealous, it seems our Prince Charming is also feeling it."

I tut and sit up properly. "Don't bullshit me. Kai feels nothing for me. Lust, at best. He feels something about his child, but not for me."

Patrick shakes his head. "Trust me, one man looking at another, it's something more going on. Right now, our prince is feeling jealous of another man coming in on his territory, even though you're not really in a relationship. Kai is better than that idiot, and he clearly has feelings going on or he wouldn't be... so guarded, as you say. The way he looks at you when you're not on camera says it all. Jealousy is a fickle game, Seahorse. It's happening all over the place right now. Trust me."

I narrow my eyes. "Whatever."

Patrick shrugs. "Come back to me when you realise the truth, young Padawan."

"I hate you and your stupid Star Wars obsession!"

He grins. "Love you, too, little sis."

Dad chuckles. "This is awkward as your father, but I have to agree with Patrick here. Both men are jealous. Classic young men."

"But... how do I navigate this? We promised professional and co-parents. What about Brayden and the media?"

"Screw him. Jealousy is the least that idiot deserves," Dad says.

"That's the thing, I actually agree with you. I don't want anything to do with him, but at the same time, I'm scared of not talking to him because of what he can do. I've lived for so long in Brayden's shadow of self-consciousness and not believing in myself that I'm scared of not being there anymore."

"Ignore him and everything about him, Mila. Focus on your baby, your new life, and your engagement. You even have a wedding date now. Focus solely on this life. Even if it's not... traditional, it's an amazing life," Dad says. He grabs my hand and squeezes. "For so long, I could see the signs, and I knew that somehow, even if I did say something, you'd push me away for it. I had to stay quiet because to try and help would be making it worse for you. I'm so glad you got out, even if it was his fault. Brayden was an arsehole, and for everyone's sake, including your baby's, I hope you stay away from him now. Please, sweetheart, ignore him."

I look between Dad and Patrick, who nods at me as well. He believes this as well.

"You know how I felt about him, and I know you never believed me when I told you he was a toxic dickhead. Please, Mila, stay away from him. Block his number, give the palace his details so they can do what they do and get rid of him from the media or whatever. He's a controller, through and through. Please, for the sake of yourself and this baby, don't have anything to do with him."

I look down and nod. "Part of me knows it all, but to hear others say it is real. This thing I have going, even if it's not real on both sides, is too good to give up. Despite not wanting it and not being traditional, I like it. My baby has stability. I like it here, and the work is amazing."

"Then don't ruin it by bringing Brayden into it," Dad warns. "Plus, I'm pretty certain our prince feels something back. Just give it time."

I smack his hand playfully. "Don't do that."

"A man knows, Mila. Trust me."

"Dad's right," Patrick says with a shrug.

I groan. "I wish I'd never said anything."

"Cookies are ready!" Annie calls.

"That's a sign to leave this conversation behind! Food is way more important." I shoot up from the sofa and head out for the promise of her cookies.

─── ♔♔♔ ───